Three Outstanding Industry Leaders to be Honored at the Two Ten 77th Annual VIP Dinner and Gala
WALTHAM, MA September 20, 2016 — Two Ten Footwear Foundation, the national charitable foundation of the U.S. footwear industry, has announced the recipients of its most prestigious awards. The three outstanding leaders will be honored at the Two Ten 77th Annual VIP Dinner and Gala hosted by adidas on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, a dual-event evening of philanthropy plus entertainment by Fergie at the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City’s Manhattan Center.
Jay Schottenstein, Chairman of DSW, Inc., AEO Inc., American Signature Inc./Value City Furniture, Schottenstein Property Group, SB Capital Group and Schottenstein Stores Corp., will be honored with the T. Kenyon Holly Award for his outstanding humanitarian achievement. Blake Krueger, President, Chairman and CEO of Wolverine Worldwide will receive the AA Bloom Award for his years of commitment to Two Ten Footwear Foundation. For her commitment to giving back to the footwear community, Nordstrom’s Tacey Powers, Vice President, Corporate Merchandise Manager for Nordstrom Rack Shoe Division will accept the Two Ten Social Impact award.
“This year Two Ten honors three remarkable, philanthropic leaders of the footwear industry,” said Neal Newman, President of Two Ten Footwear Foundation. “Jay Schottenstein, Blake Krueger, and Tacey Powers are being recognized for their extraordinary philanthropic achievements that have made a meaningful difference in the world, demonstrating time and again that kindness and caring are embedded in our industry’s DNA.”
About the Two Ten Awards and the 2016 Honorees
Jay Schottenstein will receive the T. Kenyon Holly Award, Two Ten’s highest honor for outstanding humanitarian achievement, is presented to an individual in the footwear, leather or allied industries who exemplifies the spirit and character of the late T. Kenyon Holly, past president of Two Ten Footwear Foundation. Mr. Holly was dedicated to helping the less fortunate members of the footwear industry and worked quietly, effectively and wholeheartedly in his philanthropic, civic and church affairs. An avid believer in the importance of philanthropy, Mr. Schottenstein has made sure his family of companies is always focused, quietly but consistently, on being a good corporate citizen. Privately, Mr. Schottenstein and his family are the major benefactors to numerous national and international projects including the 73-volume Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud Bavli, the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva University, the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Prize in Cardiovascular Sciences at Ohio State University, and the recently opened Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archeology of Israel in Jerusalem. Jay is a member of the JNF Negev Society and World Chairman’s Council, the Israel Bonds Platinum Society and the United Way Tocqueville Premier National Society.
For his years of service to Two Ten, honoree Blake Krueger will be honored with the A.A. Bloom Award, which was created in the spirit of the late A.A. Bloom, one of the founders of Two Ten, to honor an individual who has given greatly to Two Ten through his or her initiative hard work, dedication and unselfish actions. As Two Ten board member for nearly a decade, Mr. Krueger has served as Board Chair for two years, as Nominations Committee Chair, and as a member of the Investment Committee.
The Two Ten Social Impact Award distinguishes an individual or company who prioritizes affecting positive change for footwear employees and their families, and giving back to the community. This year’s award recipient Tacey Powers has been on the Two Ten Gala Committee since 2012, helping to raise funds on behalf of industry employees who need financial assistance. As an active member of the Two Ten Women in Footwear Industry (WIFI) community initiative, Ms. Powers exemplifies the WIFI mission to harness the collective power of women in the footwear industry to support the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, and to advance their careers by building their professional networks and leadership skills. Ms. Power’s other philanthropic involvements include United Way, producing summer meals for children, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
About the Two Ten Annual VIP Dinner and Gala:
The Two Ten Annual VIP Dinner and Gala is the industry’s premier, dual-event evening of philanthropy and entertainment. With a VIP Dinner for 500 of the footwear industry’s most influential leaders and Two Ten supporters, followed by a Gala celebration for an additional 1,500 shoepeople, the event is Two Ten’s most important annual fundraising effort. This year’s fundraising goal for the event is $3.5 million, with Mark King, President of adidas Group North America, serving as Gala Chair and host, and eight-time, Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum solo artist Fergie electrifying the crowd with a live concert. Key supporters for this year’s event include adidas, BBC International, Caleres, Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY), New Balance Foundation, Nine West Holdings, Nordstrom, Steve Madden and Wolverine Worldwide, along with numerous other, generous donors. (For a complete list of event supporters, please visit https://www.twoten.org/news-events/two-ten-annual-gala.)
About the Two Ten Footwear Foundation:
Founded in 1939, the Two Ten Footwear Foundation is the national charitable foundation of the footwear industry, providing emergency financial assistance, scholarships, counseling services and community building programs that change the lives of thousands of shoepeople in the United States every year. The only industry-centric foundation in the country, Two Ten brings shoepeople together to support each other during times of crisis and to build a sense of community that ensures a bright future for our industry’s workforce. For more information, please visit www.twoten.org
